My grown children, and probably my husband, would tell you that my mind too quickly goes to what might go wrong, and I’m full of unsolicited advice about how to avoid those scenarios. They get really tired of it. They think I’m asking them to be way more cautious than most situations require.

They’re probably right. No one can be prepared for every possible complication.

So recently I was reflecting on why I do that!

I decided it’s an occupational hazard. After all, what makes a good story? It’s all the things that do go wrong, and how characters respond to the challenges.

I’ve decided to just accept the fact that my mind is always going to ask What if? But maybe I’ll learn to turn the question over in my mind, file it away for a future story, keep my mouth shut, and stop my family from having to roll their eyes so much.

That’s my resolution. We’ll see how it goes.

P.S. Right now I’m looking forward to seeing the final manuscript of Meek and Mild, due out in February, while I throw complications at the characters of Brightest and Best, due out next August. Together with Wonderful Lonesome (which released a couple of months ago), these stories make up the Amish Turns of Time series.